Wearable barrier against spills

ABSTRACT

In one or more embodiments, a wearable barrier includes a barrier and a coupling member attached to the barrier. The barrier is a sheet of material having a composition and/or thickness sufficient to (or otherwise configured to) prevent a wide range of substances (e.g., water, coffee, wine, ketchup, cola, grease) disposed on an outer surface of the barrier from passing through the barrier and reaching a user-facing inner surface of the barrier. In one or more embodiments, the coupling member may be an adhesive material, hook and loop fastener, or other mechanism capable of affixing the wearable barrier to a garment worn by the user.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 62/259,255 filed Nov. 24, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Traditionally, users hoping to protect their garments from food and beverage spills have done so by using conventional lap-worn napkins or by tucking such napkins into their shirt collars. Conventional napkins are disadvantageous because, among other reasons, they are difficult to maintain in a desired location (e.g., they require constant readjusting or replacement), they cover only a limited surface area, and they often wrinkle the underlying garment they are supposed to protect. Conventional napkins are also especially inconvenient for women wearing certain types of garments (e.g., blouses, dresses, sweaters, and shirts without button holes). Given those shortcomings, users sometimes suffer the effects of damaging food and beverage spills despite having used a conventional napkin.

SUMMARY

As described and illustrated by way of one or more exemplary embodiments, a wearable barrier against spills is provided.

In one or more embodiments, the wearable barrier comprises a barrier that includes a sheet of material having a composition and thickness sufficient to prevent a substance disposed on an outer surface of the barrier from passing through the barrier and reaching an inner surface of the barrier. The wearable barrier further includes a coupling member attached to the barrier.

In one or more embodiments, a wearable barrier against spills includes a sheet of material configured to prevent a substance disposed on an outer surface of the barrier from passing through the barrier and reaching an inner surface of the barrier. The wearable barrier further includes a coupling member attached to the barrier. The coupling member is configured to couple to a garment worn by a user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A illustrates an exemplary wearable barrier against spills.

FIG. 1B illustrates an exemplary wearable barrier against spills as worn by a user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As described and illustrated by way of one or more exemplary embodiments, a wearable barrier against spills is provided. As those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize and appreciate, the one or more embodiments described and/or illustrated in this application are provided for explanatory purposes only and are neither exhaustive nor otherwise limited to the precise forms described and/or illustrated. On the contrary, as those of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize and appreciate in view of the teachings in this application, additional embodiments and variations are possible in light of, and contemplated by, such teachings. For purposes of this application, the term “exemplary” means one of many possible non-limiting examples provided for explanatory purposes. Moreover, any feature depicted in or described with respect to a particular exemplary embodiment may be included within any other possible embodiments of the wearable barrier provided herein and should not be construed as limited to only the particular embodiment in which the feature is described.

As used in this application, the term “exemplary” does not mean preferable, optimal, or ideal, and does not mean that the presence of any elements, components, or steps present in any subject matter referenced as “exemplary” are necessary or required in other possible embodiments or variations of the referenced subject matter. For purposes of this application, the articles “a” and “an” mean one or more unless otherwise stated (e.g., when followed by the term “plurality”). For purposes of this application, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and “including” all mean including but not limited to the items, elements, components, or steps listed.

In one or more embodiments, the wearable barrier provided herein constitutes an improvement over conventional napkins in many respects. The wearable barrier may be quickly and easily affixed to a garment without the need for constant adjustment (e.g., in contrast to a conventional napkin that moves throughout the dining experience) or replacement (e.g., in contrast to a conventional napkin that falls out of a user's collar or off of the user's lap and onto the floor). The wearable barrier may also be affixed flat against a wider range of garments, including women's garments with ornate or unconventionally designed necklines that may be unsuitable for holding a conventional napkin in place (e.g., certain blouses or dresses). The wearable barrier may also protect a wider surface area of a user's garment due to its more widely dispersed coupling region (e.g., as opposed to a conventional napkin, which must be crimped into a narrow triangular shape, stuffed into a collar or button hole, and holds its loose attachment to the garment only via the narrow triangular region). The wearable barrier may be used in homes, restaurants, schools, hospitals, senior care centers, picnics, barbeques, or any other place or circumstance in which a user may need to protect a garment from spills. The wearable barrier may also be employed by users during other activities, such as an automobile owner working on his or her vehicle at home in the garage.

FIG. 1A illustrates an exemplary wearable barrier against spills. As illustrated in FIG. 1A, a wearable barrier 10 may include a barrier 15 and a coupling member 20 attached to the barrier 15. The barrier 15 may be a sheet of material having an inner surface that faces a user when worn (a user-facing inner surface 25) and an outer surface 30 (shown in FIG. 1B) that faces a direction opposite the inner surface 25. The barrier 15 may include a composition and/or thickness sufficient to prevent food and beverage substances (e.g., solids and liquids) disposed on the outer surface 30 of the barrier 15 from passing through the barrier 15 and reaching a user-facing inner surface 25 of the barrier 15. In one embodiment, for example, the barrier 15 may be a sheet of material having a composition and thickness sufficient to prevent water disposed on the outer surface 30 of the barrier 15 from passing through the barrier 15 and reaching the user-facing inner surface 25 of the barrier 15. In another embodiment, the barrier 15 may be a sheet of material having a composition and/or thickness sufficient to prevent coffee disposed on the outer surface 30 of the barrier 15 from passing through the barrier 15 and reaching the user-facing inner surface 25 of the barrier 15. In other embodiments, the barrier 15 may be a sheet of material having a composition and/or thickness sufficient to prevent a wide range of food and beverage substances (e.g., wine, ketchup, cola, grease) disposed on the outer surface 30 of the barrier 15 from passing through the barrier 15 and reaching the user-facing inner surface 25 of the barrier 15. Persons of ordinary skill will readily recognize that the foregoing examples of illustrative only and that the composition and thickness of the wearable barrier 10 may be customized to prevent the passage of any type of food or beverage substance. The barrier 15 may be composed partially or wholly of paper, cloth, fabric (e.g. woven or knit fibers), plastic or any number of other synthetic materials (e.g., polytetrafluoroethylene), or another material having a composition capable of preventing the passage of food and beverage substances as described herein.

The coupling member 20 may include an inner surface 25 that faces the wearable barrier 10 and an outer surface 30 that faces a direction opposite the inner surface 25. The coupling member 20 may be attached to the wearable barrier 10 where the inner surface 25 of the coupling member 20 and the inner surface 25 of the wearable barrier 10 meet. As illustrated in FIG. 1B, the coupling member 20 may be disposed at or near a top end of the user-facing inner surface 25 of the wearable barrier 10. In some embodiments, multiple coupling members 20 (of the same or different configurations) may be employed and disposed at various locations across the inner surface 25 of the wearable barrier 10 (e.g., one on each edge of the wearable barrier 10). The coupling member 20 may include an adhesive material (e.g., an adhesive strip covered by a peelable backing), a hook and loop fastener (e.g., Velcro® material), or another mechanism capable of affixing the wearable barrier 10 to a garment 35 (as illustrated in FIG. 1B). The coupling member 20 may be, for example, an adhesive strip covered by a peelable backing. In operation, a user peels off the backing and, having exposed the underlying adhesive strip, positions the wearable barrier 10 and forces the user-facing inner surface 25 of the wearable barrier 10 against the garment 35 worn by the user. The wearable barrier 10 may be disposable or reusable. Where the wearable barrier 10 is disposable, the backing to the adhesive strip may be disposed. Where the wearable barrier 10 is reusable, the backing may be reaffixed to the adhesive strip for future use after the user has removed the wearable barrier 10 from the garment 35.

In another embodiment, the coupling member 20 may be a hook and loop fastener (e.g., a strip of Velcro® material). The hook and loop fastener may include a first piece of material having a plurality of hooks. The hook and loop fastener may further include a second piece of material having a plurality of loops that mate with the hooks of the first piece of material. When the loops of the second piece of material are mated with the hooks of the first piece of material, the two pieces of material become removably coupled to one another. In operation, a user may removably affix the first piece of material to the garment 35 requiring protection from spills. The user may then position the wearable barrier 10, to which the corresponding second piece of material may be attached at the user-facing inner surface 25 of the wearable barrier 10, and apply pressure to the wearable barrier 10 so as to cause the first and second pieces of material of the hook and loop fastener to mate with one another and become removably coupled. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that the positions of the first and second pieces of material may be reversed.

FIG. 1B illustrates an exemplary adhesive wearable barrier against spills as worn by a user. As illustrated in FIG. 1B, the wearable barrier 10 may be worn without disturbing the shape or pressed nature of a user's garment 35. The wearable barrier 10 may also cover more surface area than a conventional paper napkin. In some embodiments, the outer surface 30 of the wearable barrier 10 shown in FIG. 1B may bear decorative patterns or designs (e.g., holiday designs). In other embodiments, the outer surface 30 may be colored so as to blend in with the garment 35 being protected and remain as undetectable as possible.

The foregoing detailed description of the technology has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the technology to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The described embodiments were chosen in order to best explain the principles of the technology, its practical application, and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the technology in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A wearable barrier against spills, the wearable barrier comprising: a barrier, the barrier including a sheet of material having a composition and thickness sufficient to prevent a substance disposed on an outer surface of the barrier from passing through the barrier and reaching an inner surface of the barrier; and a coupling member attached to the barrier.
 2. The wearable barrier of claim 1, wherein the barrier includes at least one of paper, cloth, woven fabric, knit fabric, plastic, or polytetrafluoroethylene.
 3. The wearable barrier of claim 1, wherein the coupling member is an adhesive material.
 4. The wearable barrier of claim 1, wherein the coupling member is a hook and loop fastener.
 5. The wearable barrier of claim 1, wherein the sheet is rectangular.
 6. The wearable barrier of claim 1, wherein the sheet is non-rectangular.
 7. The wearable barrier of claim 1, wherein the sheet includes a decorative image, a decorative pattern, or a decorative texture.
 8. The wearable barrier of claim 1, wherein the substance is water, coffee, wine, ketchup, cola, or grease.
 9. The wearable barrier of claim 1, wherein the coupling member is arranged in a strip along an edge of the sheet of material.
 10. The wearable barrier of claim 1, wherein the coupling member is arranged in a strip along a top edge of the sheet of material.
 11. A wearable barrier against spills, the wearable barrier comprising: a sheet of material configured to prevent a substance disposed on an outer surface of the barrier from passing through the barrier and reaching an inner surface of the barrier; and a coupling member attached to the barrier, the coupling member configured to couple to a garment worn by a user.
 12. The wearable barrier of claim 11, wherein the barrier includes at least one of paper, cloth, woven fabric, knit fabric, plastic, or polytetrafluoroethylene.
 13. The wearable barrier of claim 11, wherein the coupling member is an adhesive material.
 14. The wearable barrier of claim 11, wherein the coupling member is a hook and loop fastener.
 15. The wearable barrier of claim 11, wherein the sheet is rectangular.
 16. The wearable barrier of claim 11, wherein the sheet is non-rectangular.
 17. The wearable barrier of claim 11, wherein the sheet includes a decorative image, a decorative pattern, or a decorative texture.
 18. The wearable barrier of claim 11, wherein the substance is water, coffee, wine, ketchup, cola, or grease.
 19. The wearable barrier of claim 11, wherein the coupling member is arranged in a strip along an edge of the sheet of material.
 20. The wearable barrier of claim 11, wherein the coupling member is arranged in a strip along a top edge of the sheet of material. 